Written Answers Monday 21 January 2008

Scottish Executive

2014 Commonwealth Games

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it still intends to fully fund the permanent works associated with the upgrading of the Royal Commonwealth Pool, as set out in Table 8.4.2 of Volume 2 of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games bid documentation.

Stewart Maxwell: When Scotland submitted its bid document for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, it was necessary for the Scottish Government to give a guarantee that the diving competition facility would comply with the regulations set out by the Commonwealth Games Federation. At no point did the previous Executive or the Scottish Government commit to fully fund the upgrading of the Royal Commonwealth Pool. Under the National and Regional Sports Facility Strategy, the City of Edinburgh Council was allocated £4 million towards the redevelopment of the Royal Commonwealth Pool.

2014 Commonwealth Games

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it still recognises £28.8 million as an accurate figure for the permanent works required to upgrade the Royal Commonwealth Pool, as set out in Table 8.4.2 of Volume 2 of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games bid documentation, and whether it will honour its commitment to fully fund the upgrade in the event of any escalation in its costs.

Stewart Maxwell: No. The City of Edinburgh Council’s Design and Build project team estimate that the cost of the upgrade of the Royal Commonwealth Pool (RCP) is now £37.5 million.

  As stated in S3W-8332, the previous Executive and the Scottish Government made no commitment to fully fund the upgrading of the RCP.

  It should not be assumed that the government will meet the costs of the RCP upgrade given that the proposal to develop the pool was planned prior to the Glasgow bid. It would be unrealistic to expect government to support the full cost of any one project.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at Questions & Answers Search.

2014 Commonwealth Games

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the City of Edinburgh Council in relation to the Royal Commonwealth Pool upgrade since the announcement that the 2014 Commonwealth Games are to be held in Glasgow.

Stewart Maxwell: Scottish Government officials have had regular discussions with officials of the City of Edinburgh Council to discuss all its sports facilities under the National and Regional Sports Facilities Strategy before and after the 2014 Bid announcement.

Child Protection

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish an analysis of the national Child Protection Line pilots held in Highland, Edinburgh, north-east Scotland and Midlothian.

Adam Ingram: The 24 hour national freephone gateway line to local child protection service providers was launched in February 2007. It was not piloted in Highland, Edinburgh, north-east Scotland and Midlothian as described in recent media reports, but was from the outset a national service. What distinguishes these four areas is that they opted to participate in the three weeks of locally tailored PR activity which accompanied the national launch of the service. A formal analysis of the early adopters was not conducted.

  A rigorous independent evaluation of the service will be carried out later this year (autumn 2008) which will analyse how the service has been operating, whether it is meetings its aims and stakeholders’ needs, and whether it is delivering value for money. That evaluation will also assess the success of the marketing campaign when launched.

Child Protection

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what lessons it has learned from the national Child Protection Line pilots held in Highland, Edinburgh, north-east Scotland and Midlothian.

Adam Ingram: S3W-8239 answered on 21 January 2008, explains that the service was launched last February on a national basis and the four areas named were not pilots except in terms of the locally-tailored PR campaign which accompanied the launch.

  Lessons already learnt from the 2007 media campaign and from subsequent experience of running the service are to ensure that sufficient time is given to help embed the 0800 number in the public consciousness. That is why a national marketing campaign will take place over eight weeks this coming February and March. Other lessons learnt this year are to ensure that the national line does not work to the detriment of local Child Protection Committees’ (CPCs) efforts to promote their own local numbers locally. The CPLine Working Group has been engaging closely with CPCs in the planning and delivery of the national marketing campaign to ensure CP service providers are kept well informed of forthcoming marketing activity relating to the CPLine and are being consulted on local PR where relevant.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at Questions & Answers Search.

Children (Scotland) Act 1995

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure parents seeking contact with children under the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 have the appropriate support.

Adam Ingram: Support is provided to families experiencing difficulties with contact issues through funding of the four national family support organisations - Relate Scotland, Family Mediation Scotland, Stepfamily Scotland and Scottish Marriage Care - as well as 13 local family mediation services. Family support work aims to reduce conflict and heal relationships where possible and where parental relationships have broken down irretrievably to support parents in developing child contact and maintenance arrangements which protect the health and best interests of children.

Class Sizes

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average class size is for primary 1 to primary 3.

Adam Ingram: The latest information available on average class sizes in primary 1 to primary 3 is set out in the Statistical Bulletin Pupils in Scotland 2006 and can be accessed at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/167568/0046177.pdf .

Class Sizes

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many new teachers will be required to deliver class sizes of 18 or below for primary 1 to primary 3 classes by 2011.

Adam Ingram: Under the terms of the concordat with local government year-on-year progress will be made in reducing primary 1 to primary 3 classes to a maximum of 18. The rate and scale of progress will vary between local authorities. The number of teachers required will vary according to the local strategies for implementation adopted by individual authorities.

Crime

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents of vandalism were reported to Grampian Police during (a) 2003-04, (b) 2004-05, (c) 2005-06, (d) 2006-07 and (e) 2007-08.

Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table.

  Crimes of Vandalism Recorded in the Grampian Police Force Area, 2003-04 to 2007-08.

  

Year
Number of Recorded Crimes of Vandalism


2003–04
8,809


2004–05
10,822


2005–06
11,403


2006–07
11,249


2007–08
not available



  For the purpose of this analysis, vandalism has been defined as vandalism, reckless damage and malicious mischief.

Crime

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals who committed vandalism-related offences received community service orders in Grampian during (a) 2003, (b) 2004, (c) 2005, (d) 2006 and (e) 2007.

Kenny MacAskill: In Grampian police force area for the years 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06 (the latest year for which data is available) six, eight and 10 persons respectively received community service orders for vandalism related offences. Vandalism related offences covers offences of vandalism, reckless damage and malicious mischief.

Crime

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to tackle internet fraud.

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government concerning internet fraud.

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to ensure that the public is aware of the dangers of internet fraud.

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with the banking and financial services sector concerning internet fraud.

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the retail industry to enlist it in the fight against internet crime.

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scotland’s police forces engage with forces internationally to tackle internet fraud.

Kenny MacAskill: In 2006, total UK losses for online banking fraud from scams such as phishing and Trojans reached £33.5 million. There were 14,156 phishing incidents in 2006, up from 1,713 in 2005. "Card Not Present" fraud, including online, phone and mail order fraud, totalled £212.6 million in 2006. Data published by Post Office on 17 Dec 2007 shows that fear of fraud is the single largest barrier for the over 50s considering internet access. These are therefore serious issues that need to be tackled by government, police and business.

  The Scottish Government is engaging with the UK Government on its Fraud Review, the report of which was published in March 2007. Activity is under way in relation to the establishment of a National Fraud Strategic Authority to provide leadership and coordination for anti-fraud effort, development of better measurement of fraud loss, and improvements to fraud reporting and intelligence to target investigations.

  Guidance for members of the public to help them to stay safe online is available at www.stop-idfraud.co.uk, www.identitytheft.org.uk and www.banksafeonline.org.uk.

  There are established links and processes in place which allow the Scottish police service to engage with forces internationally on a range of issues, including investigations into internet fraud. For example, Europol facilitates co-operation between the competent authorities of the member states in preventing and combating serious international organised crime.

  Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland are conducting a thematic review of serious fraud in Scotland. Their report and recommendations will be published in due course. HM Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland’s work has shown that the financial and banking sectors are very active in crime and fraud prevention. Some institutions are bringing in two factor authentication for web-based transaction and most are well integrated with law enforcement and counter fraud forums. The banking industry works closely with SOCA, the SCDEA and overseas partners to minimise online banking fraud committed via phishing and Trojan scams.

  The Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency houses the e-crime Unit which provides specialist support to the Scottish Police Service on serious organised crime facilitated by computer and other information technology. The unit is also continually researching, evaluating and developing new techniques which allow them to remain effective in the rapidly changing world of hi-tech crime. This includes forging links with the Scottish business community to maximise opportunities for information sharing and to identify solutions in response to concerns over potential vulnerabilities in corporate e-infrastructures.

  The Scottish Government sponsors the Scottish Business Crime Centre, a non-profit making organisation created in 1996 and which operates as a partnership approach between the police, business community and government. The centre acts as secretariat to the Scottish Financial Crime Group and a sub-group of that is the e-crime Group. This group involves the police and major Scottish banks and was formed in early 2007 with the purpose of establishing a forum in which to share information and good practice on e-crime.

  The centre also act as secretariat to the Scottish Commercial Crime Group. As part of the remit of this group, it was decided that the retail sector should be included and a number of meetings have taken place. Again, this sub-group is in its infancy but it will undoubtedly be looking at current and emerging threats, including e-crime.

  The centre has produced a booklet entitled Targeting Retail Crime in Scotland – A Training Booklet for Staff. They are presently working on the second booklet which will include card crime and helpful advice on preventing internet fraud.

Drug Misuse

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are adequate residential and day-based drug rehabilitation services available across Scotland.

Fergus Ewing: There are over 230 services listed in the National Directory of Drug Services in Scotland, including 26 which offer a residential option. Further information on these services can be found at www.scottishdrugservices.com .

  It is for local service planners and commissioners to assess and plan their services according to local need. We are reforming local structures to improve the range, access and quality of drug services delivered locally and to hold local partners more strongly accountable to the government.

Drug Misuse

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what demand there is for rehabilitation services (a) across Scotland and (b) in each local authority area.

Fergus Ewing: Demand varies across Scotland depending on drug availability and drug use. Because of this variability, information is not held centrally but we expect delivery partners to be aware of and meet this demand with an appropriate range of services available locally.

Dyslexia

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many pupils in secondary education in Scotland were identified in the 2007 census as having dyslexia.

Adam Ingram: The results of the 2007 pupil census are due to be published on 26 February 2008 and will be available on the government website at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00641 .

  The number of pupils with dyslexia in publicly funded secondary education in Scotland identified in the 2006 census is available on the government website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/02/27083941/48.

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/02/27083941/50.

  Data on pupils with dyslexia in the independent sector are available at the following links:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/04/16162451/27.

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/04/16162451/29.

Early Years

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether issues of communication, speech and language will be addressed in the proposed early years strategy.

Adam Ingram: At this early stage four key themes are emerging as the underpinning basis of the strategy, building parenting and family capacity, creating communities that provide a supportive environment for children and families, delivering services that meet the needs of children and families in a holistic way and building a workforce to deliver these services. Within these broad themes, we expect a wide range of issues and strands of policy to be covered, but it is not possible at this time to commit to any individual area.

Early Years

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its early years strategy.

Adam Ingram: As I confirmed in the course of the debate on early years in October 2007, we aim to publish the early years strategy by summer or autumn 2008.

Eating Disorders

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what residential facilities are available for people suffering from eating disorders.

Shona Robison: There are established referral arrangements with the private sector to meet the needs of NHS patients likely to benefit from in-patient eating disorder care. In all cases quality and continuity of care are paramount for both the referring and receiving clinicians.

  Plans are at an advanced stage of consideration for a new regional NHS specialist eating disorder service and accommodation in the north of Scotland which will complement existing arrangements.

Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount was allocated for inclusion in schools in each year from 2003 to 2007 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people this represented.

Fiona Hyslop: Whilst local government had flexibility to allocate other resources to this area, the specific amounts allocated to local government for inclusion in schools from 2003 to 2007 were as follows:

  2003-04: £20 million

  2004-05: £25 million

  2005-06: £25 million

  2006-07: £25 million.

  Some spending on children and young people will have been subsumed within budgets that covered services to people of all ages - e.g. community health – and as such, it is not possible to identify the total budget for children and young people over this period. It is not therefore possible to present this as a percentage of the budget for children and young people.

Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount is being allocated for inclusion in schools in each year from 2007 to 2011 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people this represents.

Fiona Hyslop: Whilst local government had flexibility to allocate other resources to this area, the specific amount allocated to local government for inclusion 2007-08 was £25 million.

  For future years, this funding will be included within the overall local government finance settlement. It will be the responsibility of each local authority, in conjunction with their community planning partners, to allocate the funding on the basis of their local needs and priorities – having first fulfilled its statutory obligations and the agreed set of national outcomes, including the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectives and the full terms of the concordat. Further details on these new arrangements can be found in the Scottish Budget Report and related concordat with local authorities. Copies of both documents are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. numbers 44076 and 44077 respectively).

Health

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what specific action will be taken in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area to tackle health inequalities.

Shona Robison: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is already seeking to reduce inequalities in health in all its activities and in its allocation of resources to these. The Scottish Government provides support through funding targeted anticipatory care interventions (Keep well), unmet needs projects which reach those who are not routinely engaged with NHS services, and other specific activities. These include a multiple and complex needs pilot to develop inequalities sensitive practices in maternity, children, addiction and mental health services for those affected by poverty and other disadvantage.

  Health improvement and health inequalities permeate all NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde activities. Specific actions are therefore wide-ranging and include developing inequalities sensitive practice by staff in every setting, work on infant feeding, financial inclusion, equality-proofed resource alloction, and complying with health and homelessness standards.

Health

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether health visitors carry out routine screening of children at age three to four years.

Shona Robison: The routine screening, surveillance and health promotion checks which children and young people receive is set out in the Health for All Children (Hall 4) Guidance .

  The guidance recommends that all children at age three to five years should have contact with health professionals for immunisation, health promotion discussion, to have their weight recorded, and to discuss any parental concerns.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what screening is offered to detect signs of heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.

Shona Robison: The National Screening Committee, which advises the UK health departments on issues related to screening programmes, has recommended the introduction of a population-wide vascular risk management programme. This is very much in keeping with the approach set out SIGN Guideline 97 on risk estimation and prevention of cardiovascular disease, which we are taking forward in part through our Keep Well pilots with their focus on cardiovascular disease.

  The Quality and Outcomes Framework of the GMS contract uses estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) for the detection of chronic kidney disease (CKD). This allows earlier detection of the condition than had been possible previously. CKD is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and using eGFR makes it easier to identify those who should be offered treatment to reduce the risk.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what compensation has been paid to families whose relatives died from septicaemia following infected pressure ulcers, as identified by the Care Commission report, Pressure for Change .

Nicola Sturgeon: The Care Commission report refers to three fatal accident inquiries following the death of residents from septicaemia associated with an infected pressure ulcer. Of the inquiries, one found that deficiencies in the care home had contributed towards a resident’s death. No central information is held on whether any compensation was paid by the home to the relatives of the resident. The home has subsequently closed.

Higher Education

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to lift the cap on student numbers in higher education.

Fiona Hyslop: There are currently no plans to lift the cap on student numbers in higher education. The Scottish Government is satisfied that opportunities to enter higher education in Scotland exist for all suitably qualified Scottish applicants.

Higher Education

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many, and what percentage of, students dropped out of a higher education course after one year of study in (a) 2002-03, (b) 2003-04, (c) 2004-05 and (d) 2005-06.

Fiona Hyslop: The number and percentage of full-time first year students at Scottish higher education institutions (HEI) who did not continue their education at an HEI in the United Kingdom after one year is shown in table 1.

  Table 1: Number and Percentage of Full-Time First Year Students at Scottish Higher Education Institutions Not Continuing in Higher Education 2002-03 to 2004-05

  

Academic Year
First Degree
Other Undergraduates


Number
Percent
Number
Percent


2002-03
3,760
12.1
1,505
25.4


2003-04
3,645
11.6
1,655
29.1


2004-05
3,205
10.7
1,225
21.8



  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency.

  Other undergraduates are students studying for HNC or HND qualifications, professional qualifications below degree level or are undertaking related modules. The figures for 2005-06 will be published on 5 June 2008.

  Student retention statistics for higher education courses delivered in Scotland’s colleges are calculated on a different basis, as many courses at colleges last one year or less. The Scottish Funding Council measures "early student retention" describing the percentage of initial students who stayed for 25% of the course duration, and "student retention", the number of students completing the programme, expressed as a percentage of those passing the early retention threshold. In the ‘student retention’ indicator each student is weighted by the amount of teaching input he or she receives. Table 2 combines these two percentages to provide an approximate percentage of students who do not complete their course. These students could have transferred to another course or a higher education institution, terminated their studies because they found work or for other reasons.

  Table 2: Percentage of Full-Time Higher Education Students at Scotland’s Colleges Not Completing their Course, 2002-03 to 2005-06

  

Academic Year
Percentage Not Completing their Course


2002-03
27%


2003-04
27%


2004-05
24%


2005-06
24%



  Source: Scottish Funding Council.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the use of colloidal silver as an antibiotic, particularly its use in tackling MRSA.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has made no assessment of the use of colloidal silver as an antibiotic, particularly its use in tackling MRSA.

  Licensing of medicines is reserved and is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Before a medicine can be placed on the UK market it must have marketing authorisation from either the MHRA or the European Medicines Agency (EMEA). The MHRA has advised that they have not assessed the suitability of colloidal silver in the treatment of MRSA or any systemic form of colloidal silver for any indication. Such an assessment would only be made if a manufacturer submits an application for a marketing authorisation for that product.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how the NHS can access colloidal silver for use as an antibiotic.

Shona Robison: Licensing of medicines is reserved and is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The MHRA has advised that colloidal silver is not licensed for use in the UK as an antibiotic for the treatment of MRSA.

  Medicines legislation allows for the use of unlicensed medicines if it is considered to be an appropriate treatment for an individual patient. In these circumstances the prescriber bears a greater degree of responsibility for the use of the medicine.

  Hydrocolloid foam containing silver is licensed as a medicinal device under the name Contrafleet-F antibacterial dressing for exuding wounds e.g. leg ulcers to control the microbial population of exudating wounds.

Housing

Aileen Campbell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many areas of social housing are designated as pressured areas, broken down by (a) local authority area and (b) location.

Stewart Maxwell: Pressured area designations are currently in place in eight local authority areas, The designations span a range of letting areas, larger housing management areas and villages as set out in the following table.

  

Local Authority Area
Summary of Areas Designated
Areas Designated
Period of Designation


Aberdeen City 
35 letting areas
Aberdeen Central, Altens, Ashgrove, Balgownie, Berryden, Bon Accord, Bridge of Don, Bucksburn, Cove, Craigiebuckler, Cults, Denmore, Dyce, Ferryhill, Fountainhall, Garthdee/ Kaimhill, George Street, Hazlehead, Hilton, Holburn, Kepplehills, Kingswells, Mannofield, Middleton, Old Aberdeen, Peterculter, Pittodrie, Rosehill, Ruthrieston, Raeden, Rosemount, Sheddocksley, Stoneywood, Union Grove and Westburn
05-09-2007 to
04-09-2012


Dumfries and Galloway
69 rural villages
Ae, Amisfield, Auchencairn, Auldgirth, Bankend, Beeswing, Boreland, Borgue, Bridge of Dee, Brydekirk, Burnhead, Cairnryan, Canonbie, Carronbridge, Carrutherstown, Carty, Chapelknowe, Closeburn, Collin, Crocketford, Crossmichael, Culquhirk, Cummertrees, Dornock, Dundrennan, Dunscore, Eskdalemuir, Gair, Gelston, Glencaple, Glenlochar, Glenstockadale, Hightae, Holywood, Isle of Whithorn, Johnstonebridge, Kelton, Kirkcolm, Kirkgunzeon, Kirkinner, Kirkmahoe, Kirkton, Kirtlebridge, Leswalt, Lochfoot, Mochrum Park, Mouswald, Nethermill, New Luce, Old Bridge of Urr, Palnackie, Palnure, Park, Portling, Prestonmill, Rhonehouse, Rigg, Ringford, Rowanburn, Shawhead, Sibbaldbie, Sorbie, Templand, Terregles, Torthorwald, Twynholm, Westerkirk, Whauphill and Yesket
05-06-2006 to
04-06-2011


East Renfrewshire
1 housing management area
Eastwood 
07-10-2005 to
06-10-2010


Fife
2 housing management areas
St Andrew’sEast Neuk
08-05-2006 to
07-05-2011


13 letting areas
Aberdour, Charlestown, Crossford, Culross, Dalgety Bay, Halbeath, Kingseat, Limekilns, North Queensferry, Rosyth, Saline, Torryburn and Townhill
15-01-2007 to
14-01-2012


Highland
9 housing management areas
Badenoch and Strathspey; Easter Ross¹, Fort William²; Nairn town and rural Nairn; Rural Inverness, Inverness Town and Culloden³; Rural Lochaber (but not Kinlochleven); Skye and Lochalsh and Wester Ross (but not Aultbea)
15-11-2005 to
14-11-2010


Moray
3 housing management areas
Elgin, Forres Rural and Lossiemouth
07-03-2006 to
06-03-2011


Perth & Kinross
21 letting areas
Aberfeldy, Abernethy, Acharn, Almondbank, Balbeggie, Ballinluig, Bankfoot, Blair Atholl, Bridge of Earn, Dunkeld & Birnam, Dunning, Glencarse & St Maddoes, Guildtown, Inchture, Invergowrie, Kinloch Rannoch, Longforgan, Luncarty, Methven, Pitlochry and Scone
02-02-2007 to 01-02-2012



South Ayrshire
29 letting areas
Annbank, Annpit, Ayr Rural, Ayr South Central, Barr, Barhill, Belmont Old, Belmont South, Colmonnell, Craigie, Crosshill, Dunure, Forehill/ Glencairn/ Holmston, Heathfield, Kincaidston, Kirkmichael, Maidens, Monkton, Newton Green, Pinmore, Prestwick Central, Prestwick Eastfield, Prestwick East Road, Prestwick Glenburn, Prestwick Marchburn, Prestwick Moorfield, Prestwick Mossbank, Prestwick Toll and Woodfield
10-02-2006 
to
09-02-2011



  Notes:

  1. Excludes Alness, Balintore and Milton.

  2. Excludes Plantation and, within Claggan, Carn Dearg, The Corries and Polmona.

  3. Excludes Merkinch and Hilton.

Justice

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7041 by Kenny MacAskill on 5 December 2007, how much funding has been drawn down by each local authority to cover the cost of providing support to victims of human trafficking.

Kenny MacAskill: No funding has so far been drawn down by any local authority to cover the cost of providing support to victims of human trafficking.

Justice

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the review of the operation and management of the juror pool will be completed.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government is preparing a consultation paper on a range of juror issues which I hope to publish in late spring.

Justice

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any fingerprint experts who still support the fingerprint identifications of Shirley McKie and Marion Ross remain employed by the Scottish Police Services Authority and, if so, whether they are authorised to appear as expert witnesses for the Crown and whether it is satisfied that they are competent to do so.

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any remedial action has been taken by the Scottish Police Services Authority in respect of any of its fingerprint experts who gave written or oral evidence to the Justice 1 Committee’s Scottish Criminal Record Office and Scottish Fingerprint Service inquiry stating that their colleagues’ fingerprint identifications of Shirley McKie and Marion Ross were correct and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

Kenny MacAskill: These are operational matters for the Scottish Police Services Authority. I have asked the Chief Executive of the Scottish Police Services Authority to write to you.

Justice

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) indictments were dealt with and (b) appeals were lodged against (i) conviction, (ii) sentence and (iii) conviction and sentence in the High Court over the last three years for which figures are available.

Kenny MacAskill: (a) Figures are not held centrally on total indictments dealt with in the High Court to include all disposals and outcomes. Over the last three years 1,352 new indictments were registered in the High Court in 2004-05, 1,152 in 2005-06 and 1,264 in 2006-07.

  Figures published on the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service website indicate that total High Court disposals by way of plea of guilty and by trial totalled 852 for the year 2004-05, 836 for 2005-06 and 839 for 2006-07.

  This information may be found at www.crownoffice.gov.uk/About/corporate-info/Caseproclast5.

  (b) The number of appeals lodged in solemn criminal proceedings are as follows:

  

 
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07


Conviction
103
81
74


Sentence 
754
704
703


Conviction and sentence
89
73
83



  These figures include both High Court and sheriff and jury cases and the available data does not enable High Court appeals to be disaggregated.

Justice

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) indictments were dealt with and (b) appeals were lodged against (i) conviction, (ii) sentence and (iii) conviction and sentence in sheriff and jury courts over the last three years for which figures are available.

Kenny MacAskill: (a) Figures are not held centrally on total indictments dealt with in the sheriff courts to include all disposals and outcomes. Over the last three years 5,512 new indictments were registered in the sheriff court in 2004-05, 5,798 in 2005-06 and 6,304 in 2006-07.

  Figures published on the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service website indicate that sheriff and jury disposals by way of plea of guilty and by trial totalled 3,611 for the year 2004-05, 3,905 for 2005-06 and 4,224 for 2006-07.

  This information may be found at: www.crownoffice.gov.uk/About/corporate-info/Caseproclast5.

  (b) The number of appeals lodged in solemn criminal proceedings are as follows:

  

 
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07


Conviction
103
81
74


Sentence 
754
704
703


Conviction and sentence
89
73
83



  These figures include both High Court and sheriff and jury cases and the available data does not enable sheriff court appeals to be disaggregated.

Justice

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many appeals are outstanding where the appellant is in custody and, of these, how many have been outstanding (a) for up to three months, (b) from three to six months, (c) from seven to 12 months, (d) at least 12 months and (e) over 24 months.

Kenny MacAskill: The number of appeals outstanding where the appeal records show the appellant to be in custody is 348.

  Of those the following periods apply:

  

Period
Appeals Outstanding


Up to 3 months
189


3 to 6 months
38


7 to 12 months
29


At least 12 months
94


Over 24 months
47



  For the purposes of calculating the period over which the appeal has been outstanding, the appeal has been considered to commence at the point at which appeal issues have been formalised at the appeal sift stage (i.e. when a judicial decision is made about whether to grant leave to appeal). In solemn criminal appeals against conviction, a significant further period follows sift during which parties to the appeal may have various procedural matters to attend to and during which the court is not in a position to progress the appeal.

  The above figures are current as at 11 January 2008 and do not include bail appeals which are dealt with expeditiously. It should be noted that appellants may be remanded in custody or liberated at various stages of the appeal process and their status may change accordingly.

  It should also be noted that the column total is greater than the number of outstanding appeals due to double counting – for example, "at least 12 months" will include all appeals "over 24 months.

Justice

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many appeals are outstanding where the appellant is at liberty and, of these, how many have been outstanding (a) for up to three months, (b) from three to six months, (c) from seven to 12 months, (d) at least 12 months and (e) over 24 months.

Kenny MacAskill: The number of appeals outstanding where the appeal records show the appellant to be at liberty is 400. It is possible that of this number some appellants may have subsequently been subject to other court proceedings and remanded or committed to custody in those proceedings.

  Of those the following periods apply:

  

Period
Appeals Outstanding


Up to 3 months
164


3 to 6 months
72


7 to 12 months
72


At least 12 months
101


Over 24 months
24



  For the purposes of calculating the period over which the appeal has been outstanding, the appeal has been considered to commence at the point at which appeal issues have been formalised at the appeal sift stage (i.e. when a judicial decision is made about whether to grant leave to appeal). In solemn criminal appeals against conviction, a significant further period follows sift during which parties to the appeal may have various procedural matters to attend to and during which the court is not in a position to progress the appeal.

  The above figures are current as at 11 January 2008 and do not include bail appeals which are dealt with expeditiously. It should be noted that appellants may be remanded in custody or liberated at various stages of the appeal process and their status may change accordingly.

  It should also be noted that the column total is greater than the number of outstanding appeals due to double counting – for example, "at least 12 months" will include all appeals "over 24 months".

Justice

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review its use of low copy number DNA, in light of recent developments in other judiciaries in the United Kingdom.

Kenny MacAskill: Low copy number (LCN) DNA analysis is not performed by any of the Scottish Forensic Science Laboratories but, if it is believed that such analysis could be appropriate in any case, police forces in Scotland may send DNA samples to other forensic service providers. This would be an operational decision for the police, as would any review of that practice. For its interests, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service is currently looking at recent developments relating to LCN DNA analysis to assess the implications.

Justice

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make an announcement on establishing a judicial inquiry into the Shirley McKie case before the end of June 2008.

Kenny MacAskill: Yes.

Justice

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-4068 by Kenny MacAskill on 12 September 2007, what work it has undertaken in preparing to announce a judicial inquiry into the Shirley McKie case.

Kenny MacAskill: Work has been undertaken to inform Parliament of the intention to establish this inquiry under powers conferred by the Inquiries Act 2005 and to meet the requirements laid down in that act.

Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the planned review of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 will take place; what the timescale will be for completion of the review, and what planning has been done to ensure that the review mirrors the principles of the original Act.

Shona Robison: I have appointed Professor Jim McManus, Glasgow Caledonian University as chair of the group which will undertake a limited review of the civil provisions of the act. Members of the group are representative of different interests in the mental health field, including one member who was on the original Millan group. The group which held its first meeting on 15 January 2008 is expected to complete the review in November of this year.

  The group’s terms of reference are as follows:

  Recognising that the general powers and provisions of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 continue to offer an appropriate framework for care and treatment:

  To consider the operation of the processes in respect of the civil provisions of the act in the context of the 10 Millan Principles and advise on changes that should be made to improve the efficiency of the operation of act and the experience of patients; and to advise on other minor amendments to the act to resolve technical or other issues referred to the review group by the Scottish Government to consider, and

  To report to the Minister for Public Health with recommendations following appropriate engagement with those with an interest in the operation of the act.

NHS Hospitals

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that continuing care wards are given adequate resources to improve standards of care.

Nicola Sturgeon: No specific resources are provided to NHS boards for continuing care wards. All NHS boards receive an annual allocation of funds. It is for each NHS board to decide how best to utilise these funds to meet the health care needs of its resident population, including any investment in continuing care wards, taking account of national and local priorities.

NHS Hospitals

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance will be available to continuing care wards to undertake improvements in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010.

Nicola Sturgeon: No specific funding is provided to NHS boards for continuing care wards. All NHS boards receive an annual allocation of funds. It is for each NHS board to decide how best to utilise these funds to meet the health care needs of its resident population taking account of national and local priorities.

NHS Hospitals

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring will be in place to measure hospital delayed discharges in 2008-09.

Shona Robison: Information on delayed discharges is collected as a snapshot census on a quarterly basis by the Information Services Division (ISD) of NHS Scotland. The census dates are on or around the 15 of January, April, July and October. The information is validated by ISD and published on the last Tuesday of the month following the census date.

National Health Service

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans "ending private involvement in the national health service" as stated by the First Minister on 10 January 2008 ( Official Report c. 4937).

Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the question S2W-7857 on 15 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at Questions & Answers Search .

Piers and Harbours

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to concerns that planned new arrangements for pier and harbour grants will mean that the local authorities involved will prioritise their own piers and harbours at the expense of independent piers and harbours.

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive why it has decided that the arrangements for the administration of pier and harbour grants should be transferred to local authorities.

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that the interests of independent pier and harbour trusts are properly protected if the administration of pier and harbour grants is transferred to local authorities.

Stewart Stevenson: As part of the local government settlement for the years 2008-09 to 2010-11, we have removed the ring fencing on a number of funding streams, including piers and harbours grant, to allow local authorities greater flexibility in determining their own local spending priorities. Recipient councils will be expected to fund their own local harbours projects from the resources that are made available to them under the local government settlement, and any other funding that is available to them from their own or other sources.

  As at present, it will be for local authorities to consider whether they should provide any financial support towards the development of piers and harbours in their areas that are owned by independent harbour trusts or other bodies.

  The Scottish Government will continue to fund the development of berthing facilities used by lifeline ferry services that are owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd, independent harbour trusts and other bodies. Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd will from 1 April 2008 be responsible for the administration of new grant arrangements to ensure that those berthing facilities remain fit for purpose. It will invite grant applications to enhance or develop facilities to support lifeline ferry services from independent harbour authorities and others and will consider those applications alongside the need for investment in the infrastructure that it owns. We shall be taking a number of detailed steps to ensure that the company does not favour unduly its own projects to the detriment of independent harbour authorities and others that may be seeking grant funding under the new arrangements.

Police

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it monitors the extent to which the Scottish Police Services Authority and Chief Constables properly follow the requirements of employment law and human rights legislation in respect of people who have acted as whistle blowers within their respective organisations.

Kenny MacAskill: Compliance by individual public bodies with employment law and human rights legislation is a matter for those bodies. Guidance on a range of relevant issues has been provided in On Board: A Guide for Board Members of Public Bodies in Scotland

  (available at www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/07/11153800/55).

  For the Scottish Police Services Authority, this has been supplemented specifically by the Scottish Police Services Authority’s Management Statement (available at www.spsa.police.uk/documents/66). Police authorities, as the relevant bodies with responsibility for employment law in relation to police officers, are required to observe the requirements of local government law in relation to human rights, equalities and all other legal stipulations which apply to local authorities and this is set out in Guidance for Members of Police Authorities and Joint Police Boards, (available at www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/committees/justice/papers-07/jup07-07.pdf). Police staff are employed by individual forces and for these staff, each force has in place policies, processes and procedures to ensure compliance with all aspects of employment legislation.

Police

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what costs were incurred by Strathclyde Police as a result of the inquiry into the causes of the Stockline disaster.

Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held centrally. Responsibility for the conduct of police investigations rests with chief constables.

Prescriptions

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prescriptions have been dispensed in each year since 1999, showing how many were (a) dispensed free of charge and (b) subject to a prescription charge.

Shona Robison: The total number of prescriptions dispensed in Scotland by community pharmacists, dispensing doctors and appliance suppliers is shown in the table.

  

Financial Year Ending 31 March
Dispensed Without Charge or by Prepayment Certificate1
Dispensed with Charge
Total Dispensed


2000
54,569,254
6,298,914
60,868,168


2001
56,871,396
6,169,236
63,040,632


2002
59,762,675
6,461,267
66,223,942


2003
63,158,412
6,322,180
69,480,592


2004
66,169,189
5,996,779
72,165,968


2005
68,980,965
5,646,360
74,627,325


2006
71,477,618
5,790,334
77,267,952


2007
73,790,083
5,675,627
79,465,710



  Source: ISD Scotland.

  Note: 1. The number of prepayment certificates issued in the year ending 31 March 2007 by NHS boards was 182,874. A prepayment certificate can be used to obtain an unspecified number of prescriptions during the period. For the year ending 2007 the number of prescriptions dispensed using a prepayment certificate was 3,774,467 - data is not available for earlier years.

Prison Service

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to reduce the number of female prisoners.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government is implementing a range of measures which have the potential to reduce the numbers of female accused and offenders being sent to custody. Individual remand and sentencing decisions are a matter for the courts.

  In relation to remand, we have as part of the budget settlement for 2008-09 for Community Justice Authorities, provided an additional £0.5 million to allow extension of bail supervision schemes to all sheriff courts and increased capacity of existing schemes. In September 2007 we implemented in all sheriff and district courts across Scotland the requirement to use Supervised Attendance Orders (rather than a custodial term) for those who have defaulted on payment of fines of £500 or less. And we recently announced a pilot exercise for the use of Drug Treatment and Testing Orders with lower tariff offenders.

  In late November, we published the Report of the Review of Community Sentences, which is strongly focused on delivering tough, credible community sentences as an alternative to short prison sentences. In the review we propose to pilot a mentoring/link worker scheme for adult female offenders given community penalties.

Prison Service

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Prison Commission will examine the issue of female inmates in its report.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Prisons Commission has been asked to consider how imprisonment is currently used in Scotland for all prisoners and how that use fits with the Government’s wider strategic objectives. The commission visited HM Prison and Young Offenders’ Institution Cornton Vale on 17 January 2008 and discussed various relevant issues with both prison staff and female inmates.

Prison Service

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with arrangements for applications for prisoner transfer between Scottish and English prisons and whether it has considered making changes to allow prisoners to apply for transfers between England and Scotland under the ordinary transfer system, as they can between England and Wales.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  We are not aware of any difficulties with the framework arrangements for prisoner transfer. Prisoners are normally expected to serve their sentence in the jurisdiction in which they are sentenced. This general position applies throughout the world. The UK comprises three jurisdictions: Scotland, England and Wales and Northern Ireland. Each jurisdiction has separate legislative sentencing and release arrangements. Transfers between England and Wales are transfers within the same jurisdiction and prison service whereas transfers between England and Scotland involve two jurisdictions. Provision is made under the terms of the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997 for the transfer of prisoners from one UK jurisdiction to another. The prisoner must apply in the first instance to the jurisdiction in which he or she is detained; both jurisdictions must agree to the transfer before it takes place. Transfer is not a legal entitlement. Each case is considered on its merits taking into account the published criteria and any compelling circumstances. The links which a prisoner has to the receiving jurisdiction, including family contact, play an important part in the consideration of any application.

Prison Service

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it was informed that Strathclyde Police had been called out to HM Prison Kilmarnock on 4 January 2008 to quell a disturbance.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Strathclyde police were not called out to HM Prison Kilmarnock on 4 January 2008 to quell a disturbance. In line with the Nationally Agreed Memorandum of understanding the Scottish Prison Service and Strathclyde Police were advised of the incident at the outset. In line with these procedures the police were present at the prison but SERCO remained in control throughout the duration of the incident.

Prison Service

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive in what capacity Strathclyde Police assisted Premier Prison Service’s management at an incident in HM Prison Kilmarnock on 4 January 2008.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Strathclyde Police attended the command room within HM Prison Kilmarnock as part of the nationally agreed Incident Command Protocol in order to offer advice and assistance as may be required.

Prison Service

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures were undertaken to transfer responsibility from Premier Prison Service's management to Strathclyde Police in respect of an incident in HM Prison Kilmarnock on 4 January 2008.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The management of the incident on 4 January 2008 remained the responsibility of SERCO and the incident was brought to a successful conclusion with no injuries or loss of accommodation to the prison estate. Appropriate procedures were followed and Strathclyde police attended the incident in line with a nationally agreed memorandum.

Prison Service

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the event of prison staff needing assistance to deal with internal violent incidents, it is normal practice for staff to be deployed from other prisons to provide such assistance.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Yes and contingency plans exist to enable this.

Prison Service

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the role of the Scottish Prison Service was in relation to an incident at HM Prison Kilmarnock on 4 January 2008.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The SPS were made fully aware of the incident at HM Prison Kilmarnock on 4 January 2008. The SPS played no active role on site in relation to the incident although were regularly briefed during the incident and under nationally agreed protocols SPS were available to offer advice and assistance if requested by HM Prison Kilmarnock. The incident was brought to a successful conclusion by SERCO.

Prison Service

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many employees of the Scottish Prison Service are currently on secondment and to which organisations they are seconded.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  There are six SPS staff currently seconded to other organisations. The organisations are: Inspectorate of Prisons (two staff), The Wise Group (one), International Corrections and Prisons Association (one), SACRO (one) and The Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (one).

Prison Service

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the nature is of the Scottish Prison Service’s relationship with the International Corrections and Prisons Association.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Scottish Prison Service is a national member of the International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA).

Prison Service

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the salaries and positions of employees of the Scottish Prison Service who are currently on secondment.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  The SPS Grades (Bands) and salaries of the SPS staff who are currently seconded to external organisations are as follows:

  

Band
Salary (£)
Costs Met By


H
53,777
SPS


H
53,777
External organisation


G
44,715
External organisation


F
38,991
External organisation


F
37,986
SPS


D
26,591
SPS

Prison Service

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the number of secondments that currently operate in relation to Scottish Prison Service staff.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  There are no plans to review the number of secondments that currently operate in relation to SPS staff.

Residential Care

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken in response to the Care Commission report, Pressure for Change , to address "serious failings in the standards of care" in every care home reviewed, as referred to by the commission when the report was published.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government accepts the findings of the Care Commission’s report Pressure for Change , which includes important recommendations for care providers, NHS boards and local authorities.

  We are keen to ensure a national approach in responding to this issue. The Scottish Government is establishing a National Programme Board, to be chaired by the Chief Nursing Officer, to oversee and quality assure a programme of work on pressure ulcers and skin care. The board will consider and advise on any necessary action. It will involve representatives from a wide range of relevant interests.

Schools

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount was allocated to youth work for local delivery in each year from 2003 to 2007 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people this represented.

Fiona Hyslop: Whilst local government had flexibility to allocate other resources to this area, the specific amounts allocated to local government for community education, which includes funding for youth work, from 2003 to 2007 were as follows:

  2003-04 £109.107 million

  2004-05 £116.237 million

  2005-06 £120.633 million

  2006-07 £121.253 million.

  As with the community education allocations, some spending on children and young people will have been subsumed within other budgets that covered services to people of all ages - e.g. community health – and as such, it is not possible to identify the total budget for children and young people over this period. It is not therefore possible to present this as a percentage of the budget for children and young people.

Scottish Government Funding

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive in which financial year it intends to establish a Scottish National Institute for Life Sciences in Dundee.

Fiona Hyslop: My officials have been in active discussion with the Scottish Funding Council and Scottish Enterprise over the last few months to clarify the best way of delivering the institute. Once this is clarified, we should have a better idea of the timescale for delivery, but I expect that funding support will be introduced from 2008-09 in line with the Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007 .

Scottish Government Funding

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the draft budget expenditure for Life Sciences, as shown on page 114 of Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007, of (a) £2 million in 2008-09, (b) £3 million in 2009-10 and (c) £5 million in 2010-11 represents expenditure associated solely with the proposed Scottish National Institute for Life Sciences in Dundee.

Fiona Hyslop: The funding of £2 million/£3 million/£5 million represents expenditure which is intended to be associated solely with the proposed life sciences institute.

Scottish Government Funding

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the £2 million for Life Sciences in 2008-09, as shown on page 114 of Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007 , will be spent.

Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8405 on 21 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at Questions & Answers Search .

  Once these discussions have been concluded, we will be in a position to determine how the first year’s expenditure will be spent.

Scottish Government Funding

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are tables other than table 22.06 on page 114 of Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007 that refer to expenditure associated with the proposed Scottish National Institute for Life Sciences in Dundee.

Fiona Hyslop: There are no other tables in the Scottish Budget that refer to expenditure directly associated with the proposed institute.

Social Services

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the reforms for payment for social care of older people, announced by the UK Secretary of State for Health in Putting People First , and whether such reforms are under consideration in Scotland.

Shona Robison: Putting People First  is a concordat between the UK Government and other stakeholders in England for the delivery of social care services for adults, including increased personalisation.

  Our Better Health, Better Care Action Plan, published on 14 December 2007, confirms our commitment to continue to shift the balance of care in Scotland, to establish a transparent resource framework to deliver new services and models of care, and to increase personalisation.

  Local authorities in Scotland have had a specific duty since June 2003 to offer disabled people, including older people, the opportunity to purchase and manage their own self-directed support in the community. Revised national guidance, to help further increase the uptake of self-directed care, was published in July 2007.

  The UK Government plans to publish a green paper on the long-term funding of social care for older people. Scotland has led the way with the introduction of Free Personal and Nursing Care and we will keep in touch with developments and any implications for older people here.

Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7310 by Kenny MacAskill on 12 December 2007, how much funding has been allocated to each local authority under section 27(1) of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968.

Kenny MacAskill: Under section 3(5) (e) of the Management of Offenders etc (Scotland) Act 2005, Community Justice Authorities (CJAs) it is the responsibility of the individual CJAs to determine how section 27(A) 1 grant is distributed to constituent local authorities to support area plans and priorities.

  The following breakdown includes the indicative allocations issued by the Scottish Executive for the financial year 2007-08 to support the specific programmes listed in the answer to question 12 December 2007, S3W-7310. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  Questions & Answers Search.

  

Community Justice Authority
£


Tayside (includes Angus)
29,563


Glasgow 
32,623


Lothian and Borders (includes Edinburgh and Midlothian)
208,220


Lanarkshire (includes North and South)
104,393

Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to establish a telephone helpline for young people with mental health and emotional problems.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government currently has no plans to establish a telephone helpline specifically for children and young people with mental health and/or emotional problems.

  Childline already provides a free, confidential 24-hour helpline across the UK for children and young people, who can talk to Childline’s trained volunteer counsellors about any problems they may be experiencing, including abuse, bullying, family issues and teenage pregnancy.

  A 24-hour helpline for people in emotional crisis is also well established across the UK through Samaritans. The Scottish Government supports Samaritans’ work in Scotland through core grant funding, and in addition Choose Life (the implementation team for the Scottish Government’s strategy on suicide prevention) has provided funding to enable Samaritans to develop a co-ordinated approach to suicide intervention in branches in Scotland.

  The Scottish Government also funds the free Breathing Space advice and signposting telephone line. It is aimed primarily (though not exclusively) at young men experiencing low mood or depression.

Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the budget was allocated for spending on children in each year from 2003 to 2007.

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government’s consolidated resource accounts are laid before Parliament annually and detail expenditure on the government’s stated aims for each financial year, including spend on children and young people. Some spending on children and young people will of course be subsumed within budgets that cover services to people of all ages – e.g. community health. As such, it is not possible to identify the total budget for children and young people over this period. The accounts can be accessed through both the Parliament and Scottish Government’s websites.

Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the budget is being allocated for spending on children in each year from 2007 to 2011.

Fiona Hyslop: The national outcomes and spending proposals set out in the Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007 underline the Scottish Government’s commitment to children and young people. This document also contains more detailed expenditure plans for portfolios. Almost all of the budget that is spent on services for children is now contained within the local government settlement and the budgets for health boards.

Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the outcomes listed in its concordat with COSLA represent all its key priorities in relation to children and young people for the 2007-11 parliamentary session.

Fiona Hyslop: The national outcomes contained in the Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007 outline what the Scottish Government, working with our partners, aim to deliver for children and young people. These outcomes underpin the concordat which the Scottish Government agreed with COSLA in November 2007 and are complemented by the specified set of commitments which are also set out in that document.

Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any further priorities in relation to children and young people, other than those outlined in its concordat with COSLA, and what funding it has identified to deliver these priorities.

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government’s aims for children and young people are outlined in and underpinned by the national outcomes and spending proposals set out in the Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007. The same set of national outcomes form the basis of the agreement between local government and the Scottish government, as set out in the concordat.